NASA is the space agency run by the United States to oversee American space exploration, research and technology. NASA, or the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, was founded in 1958 as a civilian agency for U.S. space exploration. Prior to 1958, the agency's progenitor was known as the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. NASA develops, builds and launches missions to study the Earth, moon and sun, as well as the entire solar system and beyond. The agency has its headquarters in Washington D.C., with major centers in Florida (the Kennedy Space Center for launches) and Houston (the Johnson Space Center, home of the astronaut corps). Other centers are spread across the country for scientific research, test flights and spacecraft manufacturing. NASA's current chief is Administrator Jim Bridenstine, who is leading the agency's mission of returning astronauts to the moon and sending them on to Mars. See the latest NASA news.
Related Topics: Apollo Program, China Space Program, Incredible Space Tech, International Space Station, Interstellar Travel
Latest about NASA
NASA is overhauling how it selects and develops science missions, with changes intended to reduce costs, streamline competition and get missions into space faster.
Victor Glover recalls how a suspected cabin leak warning came just 15 minutes before a crucial engine burn — and why receiving it just five minutes later could have changed everything.
NASA will provide an update about its Artemis III mission and its plans to land astronauts on the moon during a press conference today (Oct. 23). Here's how to watch it live.
NASA astronaut Luke Delaney conducts botany experiments on the ISS.
MMX could be the first spacecraft to ever return from orbit around the Red Planet.
The astronauts of SpaceX's Crew-12 mission wish that we could all see Earth as they just did — as a beautiful but fragile outpost of life in a vast void.
Get ready for the "new era of Super Intelligence."
Artemis II mission specialist Christina Koch will become NASA's acting deputy chief engineer on Nov. 1. All four Artemis II crewmates have now stepped away from active spaceflight duties.
